Express hope to end long wait today

Air21 hopes to complete a dream run in the pro league, going for the clincher and its first championship berth as the Express play the embattled Magnolia Beverage Masters in their Smart PBA Fiesta Conference semifinal showdown tonight at the Astrodome.

“We’d long waited for this opportunity, and we might as well grab it,” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol on the eve of what’s easily the biggest game of the Lina Group ball club since joining the country’s premier cage league in 2002.

Game time is at 7 p.m. with the Express, enjoying a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, taking the first of two cracks at making the PBA finals for the first time ever.

Awaiting the winner of the Air21-Magnolia match-up is Barangay Ginebra, which swept Red Bull in four games in their own side of the semifinals. Whether there would be a Game Seven in the Air21-Magnolia confrontation or not, the title playoff opener is set Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Express aren’t counting the Beverage Masters out just yet but they promise to do their best to complete the job.

Air21 import Steven Thomas is raring to get the job done, saying he’s never played a final at any time in his basketball career.

Expectations are high the Express would go all the way to the finals considering the fact that they’ve been dictating the tempo and that the Beverage Masters might miss a key personnel in Dondon Hontiveros who has suffered a sprained ankle.

“Whether Dondon will play is a game-day decision,” said Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen.

Hontiveros suffered the injury in the second quarter in Game Five and his absence told on the Beverage Masters who eventually took  an 82-92 beating.

“We could have been in a better situation. But we can’t complain on where we are right now. The good thing is that we still have control of our destiny. We’re still hopeful of our chances,” said Tanquingcen.

The youthful Magnolia mentor said his team was out of sync offensively and defensively Wednesday.

Perasol said he’s wishing Hontiveros well, saying he doesn’t want the Magnolia guard-forward to miss the rest of the series.

“If ever we complete a win, I don’t want our achievement tainted by the absence of a key Magnolia player,” said Perasol.

The Air21 tactician believes the key is establishing control in a game early to beat Magnolia.

“We really worked hard to build a big lead early in Game Five. We can’t win every time on a last-second shot by Steven (Thomas) or on a last-second defensive gem by Arwind (Santos),” said Perasol.

The Express were in complete control in Game Five, not needing crucial plays at endgame to win as they did in four previous victories over the Beverage Masters.